AROTC pre-contract scholarship?

Hello all, I've recently been contacted about a scholarship offer called the pre-contract scholarship. What it basically states is that I pay 5500 dollars for the first year in hopes that I get a 3-year scholarship either by the board or an on-campus scholarship. However this offer is to a school I don't really want to go, the school is also not an SMC so im not even guranteed active. The recruiting officer is giving me till Dec. 21st to make my decision on this offer. So my question is, should I wait till the second board and third board to see if I get a scholarship to a school I want to go to, or should I go ahead and accept this scholarship knowing that im commenting to Stetson University.

Not sure I understand what they are offering. You say you pay 5500.00 the first year, is that the cost of tuition for the school? Waiting to see if you get a campus scholarship for 3 years is basically what every cadet that doesn’t get a national scholarship does when they start ROTC. If you start School and ROTC without a scholarship then you would not be part of a national board, the only way at that point to get a scholarship is to complete among your battalion for a campus based scholarship.

I would make sure you talk to someone, maybe at a program you want to attend, to see what your status would be if you decline this offer.

The main issue here is that it sounds like there’s no guarantee of a 3 year scholarship if you accept this offer.

This may be the only school that does this as I have never heard of it before. Sounds like a scholarship from the school to entice you to attend, with absolutely no relationship to any ROTC program. When you say recruiting officer are you referring to a college employee or a ROTC official at the unit?

“School I don’t want to go to.” Not sure why, location, academics, cost without scholarship, but if you don’t want to go there, it seems like an easy answer, especially since there is no guarantee going forward. At the very least you need a lot more information and details.

In response to your questions, 5500.00 is not the full cost of tuition, the full cost is 46,000.00. So it is a discount for the first year, also the recuruting officer is an ROTC official at the school. The main problem here is, If accept this Scholarship to this school then I'm locked in, even if I get a scholarship by the board I have to go to this school. So I'm more personnally leaning toward saying no and still trying to get a scholarship to a school I want to go to, any thoughts?

In response to your questions, 5500.00 is not the full cost of tuition, the full cost is 46,000.00.

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As mentioned above, you really need to consider whether you can afford this school if you do not receive the 3 year scholarship, which by the way they have presented it is not a guarantee. My guess is that if you accept this offer you would be out of the running for any other scholarship opportunities from the National Board, maybe Clarkson can shed some light on this.

On the other side of the coin, the ROTC Battalion must feel like you would receive the 3 year since they are willing to cover a large portion of your freshman year tuition. The question becomes whether you are willing to take the risk. Of course I agree with the others in saying that you should first and foremost look at the schools you are feeling the most comfortable with.

However this offer is to a school I don't really want to go, the school is also not an SMC so im not even guranteed active.

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Yes, an SMC, will usually guarantee you active if you graduate and meet the Army ROTC PMS approval.

However, these days, if you have reasonably good grades, do well on the APFT, and show reasonable leadership traits, a regular AROTC program has a high probability of active duty. You have to be pretty darn low on the OML, to not reach that goal.

@Dckc88, The main reason I don't want to go to this school is the tuition as it is well beyond my price range, and its not an SMC, which even though AROTC-dad said isn't that big of a deal, I still would rather be safe than sorry. This is why I'd rather go to University of North Georgia, the tuition is in my price range that I could risk trying to get a walk on scholarship and it's also an SMC. Also the area around the school is much preferential to my tastes haha.

This sounds like standard operating procedures for most schools. You don’t usually know what the cost of a school is until you have been accepted and receive your financial aid package. Looks like this school has offered you a financial aid package that will reduce the first year’s cost significantly. Very few of the students at Clarkson are paying full price, and I think you will find that at most private schools. They are also trying to get you to commit early...just like every other school. Admissions folks like to see those early commits. The fact that you perceive they are giving you a December deadline seems a little shady to me, but I don’t know all the facts. Did you apply early decision or early action at this school?
If you don’t want to attend this school, don’t commit to the school. I would bet this offer or something similar will still be around in February if you end up with no other options.
I would also tell you that you seem a little obsessed with active duty. Hopefully you don’t attend an SMC and suddenly have a change of heart. I would tell you normally 90+% of my Cadets get their component of choice each year (active/guard/reserves) just by focusing on grades and PT and taking advantage of the training opportunities we encourage them to participate in.

Funny enough, I didn't even apply to this school. The only reason they knew of my existence is because of Embry-Riddle's Recruting Officer is this school's PMS and I did show interest in attending Embry-Riddle. The only non-SMC I really liked and that was close to home. Haha it may seem I'm a little obsessed with active duty, however, I always wanted to join the military and getting (and making sure) I get a full time job with it, is my number one goal. For it will be a real bummer of going through with 8 years of pre-military stuff (JROTC and then ROTC) and then have that seemingly extremely small chance, though still a possibility of getting that guard/reserve slot.

For it will be a real bummer of going through with 8 years of pre-military stuff (JROTC and then ROTC) and then have that seemingly extremely small chance, though still a possibility of getting that guard/reserve slot.

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Keep in mind that even an SMC is not 100% guaranteed as the Army ROTC PMS still has final say over your component as per federal law.

Funny enough, I didn't even apply to this school. The only reason they knew of my existence is because of Embry-Riddle's Recruting Officer is this school's PMS and I did show interest in attending Embry-Riddle. The only non-SMC I really liked and that was close to home. Haha it may seem I'm a little obsessed with active duty, however, I always wanted to join the military and getting (and making sure) I get a full time job with it, is my number one goal. For it will be a real bummer of going through with 8 years of pre-military stuff (JROTC and then ROTC) and then have that seemingly extremely small chance, though still a possibility of getting that guard/reserve slot.

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There are ways to be full time in the national guard. I wouldn't totally dismiss the other options. It will be hard knowing what you really want without the first few years of experience in rotc and talking to other cadets and cadre about the branching options. There were way more options/programs in the military than I thought, and I did a lot of research. But talking with people who have either gone through it or are just about to go through it is the best way to get a sense of what you want to do.